This Caprese Chopped Salad takes the classic combination of tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella and gives it a fresh twist. With crisp greens, a zesty lemon-garlic dressing, and the option to add hearty garbanzo beans, it’s a light yet satisfying dish that can serve as a side or a whole meal.
You know traditional Caprese salad, right?
Tomato and mozzarella with fresh basil, sometimes a nice drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Inspiration struck to take the same flavor profile and make it a chopped salad.
I added chopped lettuce for extra crunch, volume, and nutrients and tossed it with a quick lemon vinaigrette.
I also add garbanzo beans for extra plant-based protein and fiber as they remind me of the Italian Chopped Salad from California Pizza Kitchen, a childhood favorite. For more protein and flavor, try adding chopped chicken and salami just like CPK’s version.
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Ingredients
- Tomatoes: Roma tomatoes, heirloom, cherry, or grape tomatoes. Any tomatoes you have will work great!
- Basil: Fresh basil definitely makes a difference here. If you don't have fresh basil, just add a teaspoon of dried basil to the dressing for a hint of that classic flavor.
- Mozzarella: This is where I might be committing a Caprese crime. Traditionally, Caprese is served with fresh mozzarella, and you can absolutely go that route. But since this is a chopped salad, I wanted the cheese in smaller shreds, similar to the lettuce. Fresh mozzarella balls don’t shred as nicely, so I opted for low-moisture mozzarella, like the kind used for pizza. But again, go with whatever brings you joy!
- Vinegar: Balsamic is traditional ,but I’ve used red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, and apple cider vinegar at different times when making this recipe. They're all equally tasty!
- Lettuce: The day I photographed this recipe, I had just stopped by the farmers' market and found gorgeous little gem romaine lettuce. I’ve also made this salad with arugula, butter lettuce, red leaf lettuce, and green leaf lettuce. Choose your favorite or whatever you have on hand.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Step 1: Combine all the dressing ingredients into a glass jar and whisk or shake until it's all combined.
- Step 2: Put all the salad ingredients into a large salad bowl and toss with as much dressing as you like and enjoy!
Want to make it a meal? Add chicken, grilled steak or shrimp!
Tips & Tricks
Fresh garlic can be a pain to mince. I use a microplane and grate the garlic, which makes the job go faster. Plus you're already using a microplane to zest the lemon, so you're not dirtying any additional utensils!
If you're into sourdough, I love to enjoy this alongside my homemade focaccia or sourdough discard breadsticks.
Make Ahead
I love serving this when I have guests over for dinner because it's always a crowd-pleaser and works well for most diets, even with food allergies.
Earlier in the day, I make the dressing and store it in a jar. I also prep all the salad ingredients, place them in a large bowl, and keep them in the refrigerator until it's time to serve. When it's time to eat, I simply toss everything together and enjoy.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Caprese Chopped Salad with Zesty Lemon Dressing
- Prep Time: 20
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: salad
- Method: salad
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Diabetic
Description
Fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella get a twist in this Caprese Chopped Salad with crisp greens and a zesty lemon dressing.
Ingredients
Dressing:
- Juice of 2 lemons (approximately ¼ cup)
- 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ tsp cracked black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup olive oil
Salad:
- 2 cups fresh tomatoes, diced
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1 ½ cups (6 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 cups lettuce, chopped (arugula, spinach, or romaine are personal favorites)
- 1 cup garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed *optional
Instructions
- In a glass jar or small bowl, combine the juice of 2 lemons, 2 Tbs balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, 2 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 clove minced garlic, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon salt and ½ cup olive oil. Whisk until all of the ingredients are fully incorporated and the dressing is smooth. Set aside until you're ready to serve.
- In a large salad bowl, combine 2 cups diced tomatoes, ½ cup fresh chopped basil leaves, 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 4 cups chopped lettuce, and 1 cup garbanzo beans. Toss with the desired amount of dressing and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 388
- Sugar: 4.8 g
- Sodium: 1105.3 mg
- Fat: 29.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 17.1 g
- Fiber: 5.5 g
- Protein: 17.9 g
- Cholesterol: 7.6 mg
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